“The Legendary” Toyota Land Cruiser 70 Series Returns to Japan after 9 Years of Absence

First introduced in 1984, the Toyota Land Cruiser 70 Series (J70) is a legendary SUV model with a classic design that was quite popular in markets such as Australia, Africa, and the Middle East. It was also popular in Japan before it was discontinued in 2015 for not meeting safety regulations.

Recently, Toyota has brought back an upgraded version of the Land Cruiser 70 Series to the domestic market. This upgraded version was introduced in August and is currently being distributed in Australia and the Middle East with various body styles such as a 5-door SUV, 3-door SUV, and single-cabin pickup truck. However, in Japan, this model is only available as a 5-door SUV.

In the two-row SUV configuration, the 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser 70 Series has a length of 4,890 mm, width of 1,870 mm, and height of 1,920 mm, along with a wheelbase of 2,730 mm. The design of this SUV model still retains its distinctive retro charm, with round LED headlights and prominent fender-mounted turn signals. The front bumper has been redesigned with cleaner lines while still maintaining its rugged appearance. At the rear, the taillights are integrated into the rear bumper, and above it is the license plate frame and spare tire.

The interior of the 2024 Land Cruiser 70 Series only includes basic equipment, with manual air conditioning, USB-C ports, power windows, and central locking. The car is also equipped with a new standard analog instrument cluster with a 4.2-inch display. However, the infotainment screen is only available as an option. In return, Toyota has equipped this rugged SUV model with more advanced active safety features such as emergency automatic braking, lane departure warning, traffic sign recognition, and automatic headlights.

For the new Land Cruiser 70 Series, Toyota engineers have improved the chassis and equipped the car with a new suspension system. These improvements aim to enhance driving comfort and stability while maintaining the off-road capabilities characteristic of the vehicle. Specifically, the 4WD system is equipped with an electronic limited-slip differential lock, along with features such as Hill Start Assist Control, Downhill Assist Control, Active Traction Control, and Vehicle Stability Control.

This SUV model is equipped with a new 2.8-liter 4-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine (1GD-FTV) producing 201 horsepower and 500 Nm of torque. Power is sent to all four wheels through a 6-speed Super ECT automatic transmission.